Wrestling: Donny Garriott inducted into California Wrestling Hall of Fame

Donny Garriott (seated, second from right) was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame
Donny Garriott (seated, second from right) was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame

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On May 5 at the Laguna Hills Community Center, Cerritos College wrestling coach Donny Garriott was inducted into the California Wrestling Hall of Fame. Garriott, who has been the Falcons head coach for 12 seasons, was honored for his wrestling career at West Torrance High School, El Camino College and Chico State University, along with his high school and college coaching career. He is the ninth person to be inducted into the Hall of Fame that has connections to Cerritos College.

As a high school wrestler, Garriott placed fourth at the CIF State Championships as a senior, while he was a two-time All-American at El Camino College. After transferring to Chico State, Garriott was a two-time Far Western Conference champion and a two-time NCAA Division II All-American. Upon graduating from college, he was a USAW Freestyle All-American.

His coaching career includes 18 years at North Torrance High, where he posted a 280-76-2 record, which included five CIF Championships. While with the Falcons, Garriott has led his teams to a CCCAA State Championship, CCCAA Team Dual State Championship, five Southern California Championships, six conference championships and three second place finishes at the CCCAA State Championships. He has also coached 15 individual state champions, 50 All-Americans and 27 Southern California champions.

"Looking at this year's inductees, and past inductees, I am so humbled and honored for this recognition," said Garriott. "These are legends of our sport. Olympic champions, championship coaches and people I have looked up to and modeled myself after my whole wrestling career. To be even mentioned with the likes of these men and women is more than I could ever imagine. I am grateful."

Also inducted into the 2018 class included former Falcon wrestler Bill Henderson (Lifetime Service Award) and former Falcon assistant coach Pat Cadwallader (Lifetime Service Award, Posthumous Honoree). Past inductees include Karen Tufnell (2015, Lifetime Service Award and mother of former Falcon state champion Andy Tufnell), former Falcon wrestler Dennis Downing (2015), former Cerritos state champion and Olympian Heath Sims (2013), former Falcon assistant coach Dan Henderson (2013), former Falcon state champion and longtime head coach Jeff Smith (2008) and former Cerritos state champion Ken Bos (2001).